Driving Differences: Israel vs Samoa for Safer Travel
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is essential for a safe journey. In this comparison, we explore the driving customs of Israel and Samoa, revealing significant contrasts such as driving on opposite sides of the road and varied speed limits. Discover how these differences can impact your experience behind the wheel.
Lanes
| Israel | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
israel:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
israel:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
israel:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Israel | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
israel:
50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
israel:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
israel:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
israel:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
samoa:
N/A
Signals
| Israel | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green light. | Not used in Samoa |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
samoa:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Israel | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Israel | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Israel | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Israel | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
israel:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Israel | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
israel:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Israel | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
israel:
100
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
Common Fines: Speeding
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
samoa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards